Year end review for supporters 2018/19 (Royal Holloway alumni)

2018/19

Year end review for supporters

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Contents

Welcome

4-5

The gift of experience

6-7

Education for all

8-9

Supporting student initiatives

10-11

Helping students onto the career ladder

12-13

Helping international students to succeed

14-15

Celebrating our past, present and future

16

Supporting future leaders

17

Talking to Trees

18

Legacy giving – a lasting impact

19

Thank you

20-25

An eventful year

26-27

Content contributor Jessica Jonzen, BA English 2004

Keep in touch If you have any questions about supporting Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, please contact us or visit the website. +44 (0)1784 414478

Email the team Royal Holloway and Bedford New College Alumni & Friends – Official facebook.com/rhbncalumni @RHBNCalumni

Graduation ceremony 2019

Royal Holloway and Bedford New College is an exempt charity (XN69536).

Message from the Principal, Paul Layzell It gives me great pleasure to have the opportunity to share my reflections on the last year in this annual review and I’m delighted that we have many achievements to share with you.

Our community continues to go from strength to strength in terms of our successes in research, our league table rankings and students' positive views of our teaching excellence.

The increase in the numbers of students who wish to study here indicates that, while there are challenges across Higher Education, Royal Holloway is well positioned to adapt and thrive.

Our commitment to our students and the quality of the education we offer here at Royal Holloway is reflected in our most recent score for overall student satisfaction in the National Student Survey. With an overall satisfaction rating of 88%, up one per cent on last year, we sit four percentage points above the sector average and higher than 21 of the 22 Russell Group universities which appear in the survey.

We place a high value on the quality of our teaching and the individual score in that area demonstrates that the investment we make in research-led teaching is equally valued by our students.

Looking back over the past 12 months, we officially opened the Shilling Building, home to Electronic Engineering, and in March, we opened our SuperFab facility which represents a major step forward for the UK’s capability in the field of superconducting quantum devices and the global race to develop quantum technology. We have secured funding of £5 million from Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnerships (EM3) to establish a state-of-the-art cyber security and big data centre.

Our academic staff continued to demonstrate excellence in their subject areas. In the field of digital creativity, Royal Holloway secured £6.85 million funding from the

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Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) to lead StoryFutures, an exciting research and development programme supporting innovation and training in immersive storytelling. Victoria Mapplebeck, a Reader in the Department of Media Arts, won in the Short Form Programme category at the BAFTA Television Awards.

Research from our School of Law and Social Sciences continues to create an impact, for example, Professor Rosie Meek published Ministry of Justice-funded research on the role that sport can play in rehabilitation and reducing re-offending.

Our leadership in cyber security and digital innovation was further boosted by joining five universities from the UK, US and Japan to establish a new consortium to tackle the growing international challenges facing cyber security experts in our increasingly connected world. In May, Dr Steve Portugal from Biological Sciences was awarded the Bicentenary Medal by the Linnean Society, the world’s oldest existing biology society. This annual award is made to a biologist under the age of 40 years who has contributed greatly to their field of work.

Every day our academics are advancing knowledge and improving the world through their research, and they inspire our students by engaging them directly in their work. Your generosity contributes to the funding of impactful research, helping to ensure we remain one of the UK’s leading universities, and support our students, helping them as they strive to achieve their goals both during their studies and in life beyond our campus.

Professor Paul Layzell DL

Principal

Welcome Welcome to the 2018/19 year end review for supporters. This review recognises the considerable contribution of supporters like you and celebrates the difference you make to our students.

In the last 12 months over 200 alumni have volunteered their time to support professional development initiatives such as career talks and coaching. By giving your time and expertise you help our students to look to the future and consider and prepare for life beyond campus.

Over the same period, almost 900 individuals and organisations made generous financial donations which have helped talented students in need to succeed.

The university we are today was founded by social reformers who championed the principles of excellence and inclusivity.

On page eight you can read about a scholarship that is helping to make higher education more accessible and on page 12, about the important role internships play in enabling our students to step onto their career ladder. Through an extensive programme of events, reunions, lectures and concerts you can keep in touch with the community of Royal Holloway, and on pages 26 and 27 you can see some of the events which took place this year, and which you may have joined us at. Our Roll of Donors is on pages 20-25.

Thomas Holloway and Elizabeth Jesser Reid used their resources and commitment to the value of higher education to make a difference. I hope you enjoy reading about what we have achieved together and how Thomas and Elizabeth’s commitment and spirit of generosity lives on.

Anna Blackman

Assistant Director, External Relationships

Your impact in numbers 2018/19

Total £1.16m

Philanthropic income Disability and Dyslexia Services Greatest Needs fund Scholarships and Awards Research and special projects Legacies Employability initiatives Citizens project Donor investments

£17,000 £70,000 £496,000 £240,000 £15,000 £17,000 £129,000 £177,000

All figures rounded to the nearest thousand.

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The gift of

experience

The culture of volunteering at Royal Holloway continues beyond graduation with the Community Action Alumni Coaching Scheme

Altruism is part of the very fabric of Royal Holloway, University of London. The founders of the university we are today, Thomas Holloway and Elizabeth Jesser Reid, were leading social pioneers and philanthropists of their day and that culture remains a defining part of Royal Holloway’s DNA. The Community Action volunteering programme empowers thousands of students and staff to help others by getting involved in an array of different activities where they can also learn new skills and boost their CVs. The university’s culture of volunteering set the scene for Royal Holloway’s Community Action receiving The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2017.

That same year, the Volunteering team launched a coaching opportunity where alumni were asked to consider taking on a role as a coach to a current volunteering student leader.

Two years on, the Community Action Alumni Coaching Scheme is going from strength to strength, with alumni working in a range of different fields offering support to students. Here, we meet two of the scheme's pairs and discover what inspired them to get involved.

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Suraj Bali (alumnus) and David (current student) After completing an MBA in International Management in 2007, Suraj went into Investment Banking and currently works in client services. Having been a keen volunteer during his time at Royal Holloway, Suraj was contacted by the Community Action Volunteering Manager, Phil Simcock, to ask if he’d be interested in the Alumni Coaching Scheme.

“It was a natural progression and it allows me to give back to Royal Holloway and assist future graduates.”

Suraj Bali In January 2019, Suraj was paired with David, who is starting his final year studying for his MSci in Computer Science.

“The programme focuses on the coachee, and as a coach I am there not to mentor, but to help David think and find the answers to his questions by himself,” says Suraj.

“It's great to be in touch with alumni,” says David, who hopes to go into Research and Development when he graduates in 2020. “Talking to someone who was in my shoes previously can be a great insight into what a graduate life entails.”

Holly Powell-Jones and Eshan “It is rewarding to hear the stories and questions of people who are about to enter the world of work,” says Suraj.

“The programme allows me to reminisce about my time at Royal Holloway with a current student, and is a great way to find out what's going on at the university. Attending Royal Holloway was one of the best experiences of my life and I am very pleased that my connection to Royal Holloway continues well beyond my time there.”

Holly Powell-Jones (alumna) and Eshan (current student) After graduating with a degree in Drama and Theatre in 2010, Holly went to work in the media industry. “I actually got my first break due to all my Community Action volunteering,” Holly says. “I entered a competition to be TV presenter for the 2011 Vinspired youth volunteering awards ceremony at the O2 and won!” Holly went on to work on a TV news series before qualifying as a radio broadcast journalist in 2012.

Now a journalism lecturer and tutor, Holly has recently completed a PhD on social media law and ethics. Holly was paired with Eshan, who graduated this summer with a degree in Film, Television and Digital Production. “I mostly listen, and – where I can – suggest things I think might be helpful. I’ve been able to share some practical advice for

finding opportunities, and put him in touch with people that might be able to help him get a break which is lucky.”

When he made a video titled What does 'Good Mental Health' mean to university students? Holly passed it on to one of her contacts. “It led to an appearance on BBC Radio discussing the relationship between mental health and university!” says a delighted Eshan.

“Being able to meet Holly has furthered my ability to approach anyone and feel comfortable in having conversations.”

Eshan Holly has also benefitted from her involvement in the programme. “It’s really inspiring to hear everything Eshan’s been up to and I enjoy our talks. On a broader note, it’s also really exciting for me to see people like Eshan entering the media industry, because he’s exactly the sort of person we need more of.”

For more information, or if you would like to be involved, please email the Alumni Relations Managers or call 01784 414478

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Education for all Alongside the Article 26 scholarship, the generosity of alumnus Gabriel Pretus is making the dream of Higher Education a reality for asylum seeker Kehinde, and removing the barriers for others like her

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“It’s been a freedom of expression. When you’re in the system, you can’t really talk because nobody believes you, so you learn to keep quiet. Now I am free to think, to evaluate, to express myself.”

When Kehinde first came to seek asylum in the UK from Nigeria with her parents, brother and two sisters, she was 13 years old. Despite the uncertainty of her home life, Kehinde thrived academically, achieving A-levels in Biology, Chemistry, French and Maths, and she hoped to study biomedical science at university. But that’s where the barriers went up.

While refugees have full access to UK student loans, asylum seekers are required to pay high international student fees “which is impossible when you’re not allowed to work,” Kehinde says.

So, for 10 years, Kehinde lived in a state of limbo – unable to work, and therefore unable to study.

“I just kept myself busy doing a lot of voluntary work. I got involved with my church, tutoring students in English, maths and science,” she says.

“It was very helpful because it kept me in that kind of education system.”

When she was 28, Kehinde found out about a fully-funded access course in London which was open to asylum seekers. It was there that she found out about Royal Holloway’s Article 26 scholarship. Set up in partnership with the Helena Kennedy Foundation’s Article 26 project, the scholarship promotes access to Higher Education for students who have fled persecution and sought asylum in the UK. With one scholarship available each year to eligible new undergraduates in any subject, it provides a full tuition fee waiver for three years of study. When Kehinde applied in 2018, it was the first year that Royal Holloway had also been able to offer the Article 26 maintenance bursary, thanks to a generous gift from The Friendly Hand charity. Worth £12,000 per annum, it meant that Kehinde would be able to support herself throughout her studies.

Co-founded by Royal Holloway alumnus and Honorary Fellow, Gabriel Pretus, The Friendly Hand charitable trust is based on ecumenical Christian principles, and offers practical aid to a wide range of communities around the world.

Gabriel was born in Barcelona in 1940 and

practiced family law until his retirement in 1990.

He embarked on a period of extensive travel around the world before starting a Masters degree in Modern History at Royal Holloway in 2000.

From 2001, Gabriel played a leading role in establishing The Friendly Hand and also completed a higher research degree (MPhil) in Royal Holloway’s History department. Gabriel’s current research looks at the origins and role of ‘safe’ or ‘neutral’ zones in times of conflict, and he remains a Trustee of The Friendly Hand, which since 2002 has offered research bursaries and scholarships to support Royal Holloway History students, and now provides the Article 26 maintenance bursary.

“When I got the email saying I had got the scholarship, I cried,” says Kehinde. “When new opportunities are opened for you after so many years of waiting and not being believed, I didn’t know any words to say so I just cried.”

Now aged 30, Kehinde is starting her second year reading Biomedical Sciences at the university.

“It’s been fantastic so far. Royal Holloway is such a beautiful and inviting place, there’s a community – it’s lovely.”

After 13 years of fighting to be recognised as an asylum seeker, Kehinde is reticent to think beyond graduation. “I’ve lived for such a long time in limbo, so you don’t make too many long-term plans. But if everything goes according to plan I would really love to go into immunology.”

Kehinde is in no doubt that the Article 26 scholarship and The Friendly Hand maintenance bursary have given her an opportunity not only to have a future, but to have a voice.

“It’s so important to the Friendly Hand to support an initiative such as this as it allows the Article 26 scholarship to be awarded annually at Royal Holloway, bringing it within the reach of those for whom it was intended.”

Gabriel Pretus

For more information, or if you would like to make a donation, please email the Development Managers or call 01784 414478

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Supporting student initiatives

From enabling students to compete on the international sporting stage to supporting their charitable work closer to home, the Greatest Needs fund has helped some fantastic causes this year

One of the beneficiaries was Geology PhD student and sports scholar Ivan, who was able to compete in ice hockey at the World University Winter Games 2019 in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, thanks to the funding. The university version of the Olympics, this international event draws thousands of studentathletes from 58 countries to perform at the highest level and Ivan’s selection to represent Great Britain was a great honour. Ivan’s team beat Sweden, one of the top five teams in the competition, and saw Royal Holloway represented on an international stage, increasing awareness of the excellent sporting opportunities available at the university.

Another project funded was the independent staging of an original play 00:00 (Zero Hundred Hours), led by third-year Drama and Philosophy student Rebecca. Performed in the pavilion at the Packhorse student pub on three consecutive nights last December, 00:00 followed the lives of workers employed by Network Rail as part of the ‘Specialist Cleaning Team’. The play examined the impact of railway suicides, exploring mental health, society and masculinity in modern Britain. The production team worked closely with the Samaritans and Network Rail to create an accurate and urgent portrait to both raise awareness and inspire change.

A portion of the ticket sales was donated to the Samaritans.

The Community Action group of student volunteers received funding to support their food recycling initiative.

One hundred students packed gift bags of donated goods for local isolated elderly people, taking food that would otherwise be wasted on campus and delivering it to charities that used it to feed the homeless and needy. The project increased student knowledge about food waste and how they can encourage change in their own lives.

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A second project led by Community Action is the Community Research Hub, a pilot venture enabling students to implement the skills they have obtained at university to tackle real-world problems. By working with charities and small organisations which are often resourcepoor, the Community Research Hub enables students to volunteer in project work that supports their own development as well as providing valuable assistance to small businesses and charities.

Students also received support to represent the university at the Model European Union competition in Strasbourg (MEUS) last April. A week-long simulation of the EU’s legislative process, the MEUS gave students the opportunity to work on their diplomacy, improve their public speaking and learn how to write a UN resolution – all excellent transferable skills for future employers.

300 donors donated over

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Thanks to the generosity of the donations to our Greatest Needs fund, Royal Holloway students have been able to see their clubs and societies thrive this year. Unrestricted and flexible, it allows the university to allocate funds where they can have the greatest impact, including postgraduate scholarships, employability initiatives and for students with disabilities, as well as many student-led projects and initiatives.

£69,000 to help enhance student experience

For more information, or if you would like to make a donation, please email the Regular Giving and Legacies Manager or call 01784 414478

Community Research Hub

00:00 (Zero Hundred Hours)

Food recycling initiative

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Helping

students onto the career ladder The Santander Universities SME Internship Programme is giving Royal Holloway students and recent graduates the opportunity to gain valuable work experience – and even their first jobs For many, gaining a degree is an essential step on the path to a rewarding and stimulating career. But in today’s climate, it’s often not enough. According to a 2017 study, two thirds of employers look for graduates with relevant work experience which will have helped to prepare them for the workplace.

While work experience placements and internships provide incomparable insights into business practices, they come at a price. Often, they require students to work for free or the placement only make a small contribution towards expenses, making placements and internships unaffordable for many.

This is why Santander’s Universities SME Internship Programme is proving invaluable to Royal Holloway students and recent graduates such as Will Barnes, who studied both for his BSc in Geography and his Masters here.

Open to small and medium-sized enterprises, the programme ensures that interns are paid £300 per week for placements that last between two and 10 weeks. Half of this is paid by the SME and half by Santander, while the payments for placements of two weeks or less will be covered entirely by Santander.

Having completed his Masters in cultural geography research, Will went into volunteering, “It gave me some good experience but obviously, I could only volunteer for so long as I needed to have an income of some sort.”

When he heard about the internship with Common Vision, an independent think tank, he jumped at the opportunity to apply.

“The Santander placement was fantastic and got me my full-time job. The money allowed me to go full time for a solid six weeks, really commit and prove myself. They were able to almost put me on trial.”

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During his placement, Will was able to attend stakeholder meetings, including at the Cabinet Office, and was given increased responsibility. “The internship allowed me to move into more mainstream, integral roles and really get some incredible experience,” he says. “I was given responsibility that I hadn’t had before in volunteering. Whilst it’s been a challenge, it has really tested me and helped me to grow as an individual which is invaluable.”

Halfway through his placement, Will was offered a full-time contract with Common Vision and is now working as a Research and Programme Coordinator. “It was a huge surprise and I was over the moon. I’ve really started to embed myself into the organisation and am working on projects which are interesting and important.”

Having started university unclear about where his degree would lead him, Will is now firmly set on his path, “I went to uni not knowing what I wanted to do and came out knowing exactly what I wanted to do. Royal Holloway has helped me to take the skills I developed during my studies and use them in the workplace, through the Santander placement.”

“Royal Holloway was a fantastic university for me and holds an important place in my heart.”

For more information, or if you would like to make a donation, please email the Development Managers or call 01784 414478

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14 Junaid, Manju, Ravi and Anju

Helping

international students to succeed Dr Ravi Mehrotra CBE, Executive Chairman of the Foresight Group, and his wife Manju, have established the Manju Mehrotra scholarship to support talented Indian Masters students to study at Royal Holloway “Everyone benefits when you donate and support students”, says Dr Ravi Mehrotra who together with his wife, Manju, established two scholarships in 2018 open to new taught Masters students from India.

The Mehrotras are paying forward their success in the shipping and oil industries with the company Dr Mehrotra founded in 1984: the Foresight Group.

A maritime engineer by training, Dr Mehrotra grew up in Kanpur, in Uttar Pradesh in India and began his career in 1964 with the Shipping Corporation of India before eventually founding his own shipping business in London.

The two scholarships are offered as a tuition fee reduction of £10,000 for Indian nationals with an offer to study an MSc in International Supply Chain Management, Engineering Management or Project Management, with a special preference for students from Uttar Pradesh.

“We decided to set up the scholarship to help students from our home develop and thrive through education in the UK”, says Dr Mehrotra. “I was particularly keen to help more students from India go into areas related to my business as we need more bright minds in this area. In India, the system of support and progress is not always fair and we were keen to open the door for those who do not have such opportunities elsewhere.”

In September 2018, two bright, ambitious students joined us at Royal Holloway thanks to Ravi and Manju.

Junaid, MSc Project Management said, “I am honoured to be one of the recipients of the Manju Mehrotra scholarship. This scholarship has provided a lifelong assistance to continue pursuing my education. It has enabled me to find the courage to be a lifelong learner.”

Anju, MSc Engineering Management, wrote to the Mehrotras and told them: “Your generosity has inspired

me to help others and give back to the community.

I hope one day I will be able to help students achieve their goals just as you have helped me.”

The Mehrotras, who were very involved in the selection process and took great interest in the beneficiaries of the scholarships, are delighted with their progress. “We are pleased to know that we have given them this experience at an institution we are so fond of. We really enjoyed meeting the scholars and getting to know them better; Junaid was very familiar with where we grew up and it was nice to recall places together. I think they appreciated it too – a taste of home and family, but in London!” says Dr Mehrotra.

The scholarships will continue to support talented students to pursue their education at Royal Holloway.

“We hope to create a legacy of helping bright students from India achieve the next steps in their education at a top UK university, in the unique culture and environment Royal Holloway has. We have worked hard and now have enough to help others. I hope that by setting this example, our scholars will know that they have to work hard to get ahead and then give back to help others.”

Dr Ravi Mehrotra CBE For more information, or if you would like to make a donation, please email the Development Managers or call 01784 414478

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Celebrating

our past, present and future

Honorary Fellow and Chair of the Bedford Society Dr Claire Gobbi Daunton shares the highlights from the Society’s eventful and successful year

One of the keys to this success has been the strength of its relationship with alumni and former staff. When the Bedford Society was established in 2012, its purpose was to ensure that the spirit of one of the University of London’s founding colleges would live on. It does this through enabling alumni to maintain contact with the College and each other and supporting current students in various ways.

The past year has been another successful one for the Bedford Society. Together with a dedicated committee, and with essential support and donations from alumni and former staff members, we have put on a stimulating programme of events, marking significant anniversaries and celebrating present achievements. We have also raised funds vital for the future prospects of students.

Last November, 120 guests were welcomed to Regent’s University, the former home of Bedford College for First Ladies – 100 Years of Suffrage, marking the centenaries of the Representation of the People’s Act 1918, and the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919. The event highlighted the achievements of several pioneering women, a number of whom had studied at Bedford College.

In February we were delighted to hear Bedford alumna, Dr Carol Lovelidge (Biochemistry, 1963) give a talk on Pioneering Women in Medicine and the role of Bedford College.

Carol focused on the early struggles of the first women who qualified as doctors, and explained that Bedford College played an important role in providing basic science courses relevant for pre-clinical training, and later provided further medical-related graduate projects prior to clinical studies.

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In May, alumna Susanne Groom (BA French, 1969), recently retired as Curator of Historic Royal Palaces, gave an illustrated talk at 11 Bedford Square on the history of Kew Palace.

Kew Palace: 100 Years of Royal Summers provided a fascinating

£35,000 was raised for

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Royal Holloway and Bedford New College is an institution which has been remarkably successful in recognising its history whilst embracing new areas of intellectual enquiry and academic development.

Bedford Society scholarships journey through the various construction projects and garden transformations of the area now encompassed by Kew Gardens. Susanne also enlightened us about the extraordinary episodes in the lives of the Hanoverian royal families for whom Richmond and Kew provided an escape from London.

One of the Society’s vital objectives is to raise funds for the Bedford Society Scholarship Fund. This was established to support talented Masters students. I’m delighted to report that this year over £35,000 was raised via the Society’s autumn appeal and we funded the second set of three Bedford Society scholars. Society members also pledged future legacies towards the Scholarship Fund and the Dr Roy Edwards Award was established in memory of former staff member, Dr Edwards (1930 - 2016) to support a new research student in Computer Science every year for the next five years.

With one of our 2018 scholars on course to becoming a film producer following her Masters in Producing Film and Television, and another applying for a PhD, it is heartening to see that the generosity of Bedford Society members is having a significant impact on the prospects of the College’s promising and ambitious students.

Thank you to all fellow Bedfordians who have helped to make the Society what it is today and for supporting the Bedford Society Scholarship Fund so we can ensure that the spirit of Bedford College continues to be kept alive.

If you would like to find out more about The Bedford Society and its forthcoming programme of events, or about donating to the Bedford Society scholarship fund, please email the Regular Giving and Legacies Manager or call 01784 414478

Supporting future leaders

Bedford College alumnus Robert Childs is creating opportunities for the potential leaders of the future through two scholarships in his name. We discover the impact of his gifts As Chairman of award-winning insurer Hiscox, and Deputy Chairman of Lloyds, Bedford College alumnus and Honorary Fellow Robert Childs is recognised as one of the UK’s preeminent leaders in finance.

A long-term supporter of the College, Rob was Chairman of the School of Management Advisory Board from its inception in 2004 until the end of 2011. Now, through funding scholarships at Royal Holloway, he is providing opportunities for the next generation of leaders.

Starting this September, the Rob Childs scholarship supports students within the School of Business and Management.

The Childs Family Future Leaders scholarship for History, meanwhile, provides a full scholarship to cover tuition fees for an undergraduate studying within the Department of History.

that have been made available to me, something which I would have been unable to afford without its support.”

Isobel has graduated with a first class degree and plans to gain work experience over the next year before beginning a Masters in September 2020.

“I am delighted that Isobel has made so much of the opportunity,” said Rob. “The scholarship was for her to enjoy and it is super to hear she is doing so well.”

He holds fond memories of his own time reading History at Bedford College, “My time at Bedford College was a very enjoyable part of my road to adulthood. I enjoyed reading history then and now, and it has also proved to be a very useful background to a career in management.”

What inspired Rob to establish the Childs Family scholarship?

“I wanted to allow others to have the chance that I had; I was the first of my family to go to university and I went in the time of subsistence grants and no fees. It is my family’s opportunity to help,” he said. “To be able to make a gift to the College to allow young people to have three or four years to study relieved of too many financial pressures is a privilege.”

Thanks to the generosity of his gift, recent graduate Isobel was able to complete her History degree free from financial worry, and take advantage of all the opportunities available to her.

In her first year Isobel was able to participate in the History Society trip to Rome thanks to the scholarship. When she was awarded a place on the summer school programme at Korea University to study Korean Art History for six weeks, she was able to pay for her return flights to Korea with money from her scholarship.

Isobel wrote to Rob and told him what a “wonderful experience” it had been, and how the scholarship had offered her “both security and the ability to seize the opportunities

Isobel in Rome

The Childs Family Future Leaders scholarship in History will support a talented and promising student in need from this September. To find out more about gifts to the university, or setting up a scholarship in your name, email the Development Managers or call 01784 414478

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Talking to Trees

A ground-breaking pilot scheme run by Royal Holloway and supported by Naturalist, broadcaster, campaigner and Honorary Doctorate Chris Packham is educating children about the vital role trees play in our ecosystems. The results have been impressive

In 2016 The Woodland Trust and Forestry Commission reported that England’s green and pleasant land is slipping into deforestation, with more trees now being felled each year than are being planted. Tree cover in England today stands at 10% compared to 13% in the UK, and an average of 38% in Europe.

Led by Dr Deborah Harvey from our Department of Biological Sciences, in partnership with The Woodland Trust, Royal Holloway has launched a year-long pilot project, Talking to Trees, to engage the next generation in the vital importance of trees. Working with 15 primary schools across London and the South East, which have already been identified as planting trees and working on their Green Tree awards, Talking to Trees has engaged over 500 young people aged eight to 11.

The scheme educates children about the hidden habitats of trees and their vital role in our ecosystems, inspiring them to become environmental champions and understand the vital importance of preserving our natural world. It also monitors both how children interact with their environment and how this increases their connectivity to nature, improving mood, wellbeing and engagement.

“Trees are often looked upon as ‘boring’ by children and very much blend into the landscape,” says Dr Harvey.

“Through my work on this schools’ biodiversity project, their opinion is overturned as trees are shown to be so much more than that and important ecosystems in their own right. Talking to Trees brings us in touch with nature.”

From carrying out tree surveys and learning about tree reproduction to discovering how trees provide both food and habitat for other plants and animals, Talking to Trees has shown the children a hidden world. Teachers reported that children were “energised and open” after their sessions, that “working on the programme has notably contributed to their raised happiness”, and that Talking to Trees really seemed to "reduce their anxiety”.

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“Children who have low connection to nature become so much more engaged, motivated and demonstrate much greater improvement in mood,” says Dr Harvey.

“Our natural world is low cost but high benefit for us all.

It’s too easy to be locked onto our computers these days.”

Dr Harvey hopes to secure longer term funding so that Talking to Trees can be rolled out on a wider scale.

“Given there is much greater focus on ecology and the natural environment, the impact and benefits to engage more young people is huge. It’s a great example of how universities can work more collaboratively with schools.”

Naturalist, broadcaster, campaigner and Honorary Doctorate Chris Packham is an ambassador for the project.

“We know that being ‘in nature’ reduces salivary cortisol levels, thus stress, reduces heart rate and blood pressure and increases the production of natural killer cells which facilitate our immune system to better cope with viral infections and tumours. We also know that when children have improved mental health they improve attainment of skills and learning,” says Packham.

“So why is this project important and how do we reach these youngsters? Simple – school – because almost everyone has to go to school. Schools are an essential point of access to ‘nature’ and a place where a far greater awareness of mental and physical health is desperately required.”

For more information, or if you would like to make a donation, please email the Development Managers or call 01784 414478

Legacy giving – a lasting impact

The gift of higher education provides us with opportunities and experiences we benefit from throughout our careers and lives. Remembering the inspiring tutors and lecturers, the lifelong friends made and the impact the university has had on their lives are all reasons why alumni and friends choose to leave a gift in their will to Royal Holloway to provide opportunities for the next generation.

“It was the philanthropy of our Victorian forebears that established the College.

Now it’s up to us – who owe so much to our education – to help to sustain the College for others. Never has there been a greater need for our giving.”

Margaret Chadderton, legacy pledger, BA English, 1963 Professor Barbara Raw Professor Barbara Raw graduated in English in 1949 from Royal Holloway College. She was Emeritus Professor of Anglo-Saxon at University of Keele and a gifted scholar and teacher.

Professor Raw left a legacy to support a scholarship or bursary for students interested in Old English, Anglo-Saxon Archaeology and English which, over the coming years, will benefit generations of scholars.

The Percy Butler Scholarship The extraordinarily generous gift left to the College by former Head of Zoology Professor Butler led his friend and colleague Dr Graham Twigg to establish the Percy Butler Scholarship. The scholarship offers a talented and deserving PhD student the opportunity to continue their Zoology research. One of the recipients, Daniel, is focusing his research on social behaviour and collective behaviour in animal groups, and explains what his PhD studentship has meant to him.

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current legacy pledges ranging from £500 to £3M

Daniel "My studentship has achieved much more than an addition to the scientific literature. It has helped improve my abilities, my contributions, and also my well-being in unforeseeable ways. Moving forward, I now have much greater clarity in my ideas, and am applying for grants to further an exciting career in science. The studentship provided an essential stepping stone to my future, for which I am full of gratitude to Graham, Percy, and the university more broadly.

Royal Holloway has been an incredibly supportive and encouraging environment for my growth and scholarship."

For more information, or if you would like to make a donation, please email the Regular Giving and Legacies Manager or call 01784 414478

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THANK YOU!

Scholarship reception 2019

It is with profound sincerity that we thank the alumni, parents, staff, individuals, trusts, foundations and companies who choose to support Royal Holloway and Bedford New College. Such incredible generosity enables us to enrich the lives of our students, provide resources vital to our researchers and enhance the impact that the university can have around the world.

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Thanks to all who have donated £1,000 or more to the university in 2018/19.

Donors whose names appear in bold gave £5,000 or more.

Scholarships and Awards

Lady Doreen Peach

Disability and Dyslexia services

Mr David Beever

Ms Carolyn Saunders

Dr Graham Twigg

Professor Clare Bradley

Ms Anita Spence

The Schroder Charity

Lady Olwen Cass MBE JP DL

Mr John Valentine

Sobell Foundation

Robert Childs

Mr Adrian Waddingham CBE

Research and special projects

Emeritus Professor Warren Dicks

Dr Susan West

Mr and Mrs Caroussis

Mrs Pat Doble and The Bedford Society

Dr Jane Willoughby and Mr Ingram Losner

Mr Donald Clarke

Professor Jane Everson

Ashley Family Foundation

Máire Davies

Mrs Angeliki Frangou

The Friendly Hand

Professor Alastair Hay OBE

Mr Graham Funnell

The Headley Trust

Mr Michael Heslop

Mr and Mrs Gent

Hobson Charity Limited

Mrs Jenny Jones

Gareth and Kate Griffith

Holocaust Educational Foundation of Northwestern University

Dr Laurence Julien

Mrs Patricia Haffenden Mr Brian Harris Mrs Barbara Healy Mr John M Healy Dr Charles Howie Mr Tony Hulatt Byron Sigal and Susan Jacobson Mrs Nina Kaye Dr Pirkko Koppinen

The Kobler Trust Pears Foundation The Reed Foundation Santander Universities Toni Schiff Memorial Fund

In Memoriam scholarships and awards Behboodi Scholarship

Professor Paul Layzell

Corky McGuinness Award in Musicology

Mr Brian Little FRCS FRCOphth

Herringham Scholarships

Dame Felicity Lott DBE FRAM

Elaine Etherton Scholarship

Mr Christiian Marriott

Mayled Scholarship for Historical Musicology

Mr Glenn Matheson Catherine McGuinness and family Paddy McGuinness CMG OBE Dr Ravi Kumar Mehrotra CBE and Mrs Manju Mehrotra

Jack Westaway Scholarship and Prize

Employability initiatives Ms Ann Ewing Mr Christiian Marriott

Sir Mark and Lady Moody-Stuart

Mrs Jane Ross

Dr Joanna Newman

The Reed Foundation

Dinah Nichols CB

Santander Universities

Mr Andrew Currant

Mr Alexandros Kedros Mr Tryphon Kedros Mr George Lemos Mrs Edmée Leventis OBE Mr Pakorn Sukhum Mr Piers Wombwell The A G Leventis Foundation Centre for the Study of Emotion and Law Hellenic Foundation Heritage Lottery Fund Imam Sadr Foundation JEOL (U.K.) LTD Ministry of Education and Culture, Cyprus Woodland Trust

Legacy gifts Mrs Rosemary Allt Dr Roy Edwards Miss Edith Hanson

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Donors who have given between £100 - £999 to support student scholarships and awards, employability initiatives, research, student clubs and societies including music and sports activities under the Greatest Needs fund.

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Mr Russell Adfield

Mr John Briggs

Mr Aiden Coloe

Mrs Stella Agyepong Sarkodieh

Mr Adrian Brown

Mrs Valerie Colonna (née Taylor)

Miss Dania Akeel

Dr Kathryn Brown

Mrs Vida Conway

Mr Graham Almandras

Miss Patricia Brown (sadly deceased)

Mrs Anne Cooper

Mr Simon Arnell

Patricia Brown

Mrs Marion Cooper

Alima Atta

The Reverend Dr Arnold Browne

Miss Sheila Cooper

Professor Paul Baines

Mrs Dawn Bruin

Dr Michael and Mrs Elizabeth Baker

Mrs Kate Bryant

Dr Tom and Mrs Kathryn Courtenay-Evans

Mr Suraj Bali

L Preston Bryant Jr.

Dr Cedric Banfield

Dr Laurence Bryant

HH Brian Barker CBE QC

Dr Alan and Mrs Mary Buckle

Dr Helen Barker

Mr David Burke

Dr Simon Barker

Mr Martin Burnley

Dr Diana Barnes PhD

Mrs Lucy Butcher

Professor Caroline Barron OBE

Mr Alan Butler

Mrs Ann Bartlett

Ms Elaine Capizzi

Mr Chistopher and Mrs Alison Bates

Miss Helen Carey

Mr Brett Batson

Philip Carleston

Mrs Kathryn Beecroft

Mrs Heather Carrington

Mrs Jean Benson

Mr Jamie Carroll

Mr Graham Davies

Mr Kurt Benson

Miss Enid Castle OBE JP

Professor Anne-Christine Davis

Dr Robin Biellik

Mrs Jill Cattell

Mrs Thelma Daymond

Mrs Sally Birkin

Miss Margaret Chadderton

Mrs Barbara de Ferry Foster

Mrs Sheila Bishop

Miss Lisa Chandler

Mrs Ann Deamer

Mrs Katharine Boddy

Dr Greg Chapman

Mr Alexander Dennison

Mrs Carol Bostock-Smith

Miss Edith Chester

Mr Matthew Derbyshire

Mr Andrew Bottrill

Mrs Mo Clancy

Miss Frances Dimond

Ms Joanna Bowley

Mrs Jane Clark

Mrs Jenifer Dixon

Mrs Diana Boxall

Mrs Ailsa Clarke

Mrs Sarah-Jane Docherty

Dr Elizabeth Brennan

Mr Dave Cobb

Mrs Wendy Dopheide

Mr Richard Breton

Mr Tim Coghlan

Mr Paul Dorman

Nancy Bridgford

Mr Neil Colman

Mr Ciaran Doyle

Mr Alasdair Coutts-Britton Dr Peter Cox Professor John Creaser Ms Grace Crowhurst Mrs Patricia Crowson Mrs Fiona Crutchley Mr Jon Cutter Mr R Dalladay Dr Joan D'Arcy Dr Claire Gobbi Daunton Dr Adelina Davies Dr Eirian Davies

Professor Gavin Drewry

Mrs Jean Hackett

Miss Bettina Hughes

Mrs Judith Drury

Mr David Haddow

Mrs Diana Hughes

Miss Maria-Luiza Dumitrescu

Mr Simon Hadlington

Mr Stephen Hughes

Mr Jason Duncan

Mrs Christine Hague

Mrs Ann Hulme

Mr Chris Dunne

Mr Jonathan and Mrs Hilary Hale

Ms Janet Hunt

Mr Matthew Dunster

Mr Edward Hammond

Mrs Katharine Hunter

Mrs Jean Eccleston

Dr Richard Hancock

Miss Susan Hunter

Mrs Anna Elliott

Roger Harben

Mrs Margaret Huntington

Mrs Angela Emmott MCLIP

Mr Peter and Mrs Helen Harrington

Mrs Elizabeth Hurfurt

Mrs Ladan Esfahani

Cristina Harrison

Miss Julia Inchley

Mr Bruce Eshbaugh

Mrs Sally Jane Harrop

Mrs Margaret Ives

Mrs Audrey Evans

Mr Roy Harrow

Mrs Margaret Jack

Mrs Daphne Evans (sadly deceased)

Ms Mary Hartnoll CBE

Mrs Patricia Jenkins

Mrs Sheila Fellows

Dr Wasimul Hasan

Miss Rachel Fenn

Mr David Johnson

Mr Adam Hatfield

Professor JosĂŠ Fiadeiro

Mr Timothy Hayes

Mrs Hania Flannery

Mrs Susan Haynes

Mrs Gill Fletcher

Mrs Mary Herbert

Miss Susie Fletcher

Professor Jocelyn Hicks-Brody FRCPath

Mrs Janet Foreman Professor Mary Fowler Miss Mary Franklin

Mr Keith Hider Professor David Hiley

Miss Patricia Johnson Mrs Susan Johnston Miss Sarah Keen Mrs Sally Keith (nĂŠe Border) Ms Sarah King Mr Paul Kinninmont Mrs Julie Lambert

Mrs Carolyn Hill

Mrs Ramona Lamport

Mrs Rosemary Hill

Jeanne Solomon Langley

Mr Tris Hillier

Mrs Janet Lash

Mr Peter Hind

Dr Ursula Lawrence

Mr John Hinze

Mrs Donna Lincoln-Ohrstrand

Dr Ann Hirst

Mrs Andrea Livsey

Mrs Victoria Hobbs

Suzanne Lloyd Holt

Dr Jane Girdham

Mr Colin Hodge

Mr Richard Lloyd

Miss Valerie Givan

Mr John Holden

Mrs Muriel Long

Dame Sarah Goad DCVO JP

Miss Christine Holroyd

Mr Nick Low

Dr Elizabeth Goddard

Mrs Molly Hornby

Dr Kenneth Mackenzie

Mrs Anna-Marie Greenaway

Mrs Susan Howlett

Mrs Carol Maloney

Mrs Dzintra Gregory

Mr Christopher Howorth

Mrs Barbara Mangles

Miss Helen Groenendaal

Ms Lurlyn Hudson

Ms Elizabeth Margosches

Mrs Elisabeth Freeman Miss Elizabeth Fudakowska Mrs Ann Galsworthy Miss Caroline Willbourne Mr Maurice Gifford Mr Bernard and Mrs Catherine Gilhespy

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Ms Linda Marsh

Mrs Christine Peach

Dr Louise Scheuer

Mrs Julia Mathews

Dr Robert Pearce

Mrs Doris Scotford

Mr David and Mrs Moira Matthews

Mrs Angela Pearson

Mrs Lindsey Scotney

Mrs Claire Maycock

Mr Keith Penfold

Dr Tim Scott

Mr Roger Mayhew

Mrs Nicola Peters

Dr David Scurry

Mr Andrew McClure

Dr David Phillips

Mr Andrew Seal

Mrs Susan McGowan

Mr John Phillips

Mr Edward Sealy

Mr John Mead

Mr John Phoenix

Mr Matthew Searle

Dr Moya Meredith Smith

Mr Timothy Pipe

Dr Daphne Self

Mr George Metzger

Dr Piers Plummer

Mr Julian Sellen

Dr Anne Middlemiss

Miss Leonora Polmounter

Mr Naresh Shah

Miss Audrey Miller

Mrs Catherine Pomeroy

Miss Elizabeth Sherbrooke

Air Commodore Ruth Montague

Mr John Pool

Mrs Sue Sheridan OBE

Mrs Wendy Moorhead

Mr David Powell

Mr Alex Sherman

Mrs Carolyn Morant Mr Nick and Mrs Carol Morgan Mrs Janet Morter Mrs Lindy Moulton Dr Anne Mullen Mr Yoshiaki Nakano Mrs Mary Nayar

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Mr Dougal Powrie Dr John and Mrs Pat (née Thorneycroft) Prebble Mr David Preston Dr Andrew Pullen Mr Richard Puzey Mrs Miriam Pybus Mrs Sarah Quail

Mrs Jennifer Sherwood Miss June Simpson Mrs Liz Slater Mrs Ann Smith Mrs Eva Snyders Mrs Marion Somerville Mr Leonard Sperry

Miss Ruth Newcombe

Professor Barbara Raw (sadly deceased)

Mr Henry Stephens

Mr Chris Noble

Miss Florence Rayner

Mr Andrew Stephenson MP

Professor Katie Normington

Christopher A. Reynolds

Mr Edward Stevenson

Mrs Carolyn Norwich

Dr Julian Richardson

Mrs Stephanie Stewart

Mr Philip and Mrs Jennifer O'Brien

Mrs Sanaya Robinson

Mr Stephen Stewart

Ms Kaori Ogura

Dr John Michael Rogers

Mrs Jo Strange

Mr Gerry O'Hagan

Miss Judith Rogerson

Mrs Katherine Stringfellow

Mrs Jacqueline Oliver

Mr Stephen Rouse

Mrs Barbara Swift

Mr Andrew and Mrs Jane Osborne

Mrs Jean Routley

Mrs Judith Talbot

Mr David Overton

Mrs Kate Sabisky

Mr Gordon Taylor

Mr Christopher Owens

Mrs Valerie Saint

Mr Fitzroy Thomas

Dr David Pacey

Mrs Elisabeth Saul

Mrs Christine Titman

Mr Sanjay Patel

Miss Ann Sayer

Mr Christopher Tonkin

Mr Iain Pavely

Mr Paul and Mrs Fran Scarff

Mr Roger Tooze

Mrs Christine Topliss Mrs Joan Trobe Dr Penny Tucker Ms Doris Turck Miss Dorothy Turley Mrs Barbara Turner (née Tyas) Mrs Sarah Tyacke CB Mr Peter Underwood

A special thanks to the Board Members and Officers of the American Foundation for Royal Holloway and Bedford New College and members of the Bedford Society Committee and project ambassadors with whom we worked closely in 2018/19 American Foundation for Royal Holloway and Bedford New College L Preston Bryant, Jr.

Mr Alex Voice

Mr Bruce Eshbaugh

Dr Roy Waight

Mr Gordon Taylor

Mr Daniel Walker

Dr Jane Willoughby

Mrs Sally Walker

Ms Angela Slater-Arnold

Mr David Wallace

Mrs Rohini Chandrabhatla

Mr Anthony and Mrs Joanna Wallis Mrs Elizabeth Walters Mr James Watkins Mrs Ursula Watts Mr Christopher Wayne

Mrs Dorothy Wedge

Project Ambassadors

Bedford Society Committee Dr Claire Gobbi Daunton (Chair) Professor Caroline Barron OBE Mrs Marta Baker Professor Clare Bradley Mrs Pat Doble Professor Gavin Drewry Mrs Caroline Garthwaite Mrs Jennifer Glastonbury

Mr David Aspinall

Dinah Nichols CB

Mr David Beever

Mrs Sanaya Robinson

Sir Andrew Burns KCMG

Dr Joseph Spring

The Lady Heseltine

Mr Bruce Watson

Ms Sarah King

Mr John Wenger

Ms Amanda Mackenzie OBE

Mr David Swann and Mrs Rosemary Westley MBE

Alderman Sir Andrew Parmley

Mr Declan White Mr David Wilkinson CB Miss Beryl Williams Professor Katie Willis Mrs Wendy Wilson Professor Dr Martin Wirsing Mrs Penny Wood Mrs Alison Woodhouse (née Collie) Mr Roger and Mrs Kate Woodward Mr Jonathan Woolley Mrs Lesley Yapp

We are also grateful to our supporters and volunteers who have contributed their time, expertise and resources in the following ways: • served as members of Committees or as Project Ambassadors • gave guest lectures and performances • supported careers, employability and recruitment events • organised anniversaries and reunions • supported departmental activity • given interviews for our publications

Biogen Idec Foundation

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An

eventful year

The new Beatrice Shilling Building, home to the university's Department of Electronic Engineering, was opened by Professor Dame Ann Dowling, President of the Royal Academy of Engineering.

The first Festival of Volunteering encouraged students to get involved with volunteering opportunities available at the University, and to be part of the university’s ever-growing voluntary presence in the local community, for which it has won The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

A new world-class electronic nanofabrication facility called Superfab was officially opened, comprising an advanced cleanroom for research and development of superconducting electronics and quantum circuits.

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Rock legend and astrophysicist Dr Brian May gave a fascinating presentation about his collection of remarkable stereoscopic photographs.

ver 500 alumni returned to campus to reunite with O former classmates and relive their student days at our inaugural Alumni BBQ and SU Night.

Alumni enjoyed expanding their professional and social network at gatherings across the globe, from Houston to Hong Kong and beyond. Â

The centenaries of the Representation of the People’s Act of 1918 and the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919 were marked at the Bedford Society First Ladies event, at which the achievements of several pioneering women, a number of whom had studied at Bedford College, were explored.

The Computer Science department celebrated its 50th anniversary by taking people on a journey through 200 years of digital technology in a special exhibition, exploring the history of computing technology and its effect on society.

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Who’s who in the team Please feel free to contact us for assistance at any time.

Anna Blackman Assistant Director, External Relationships +44 (0)1784 443824 Email Anna Laura Crowder Development Manager +44 (0)1784 443100 Email Laura Emma Richards Development Manager +44 (0)1784 276611 Email Emma Diana Sankey Development Manager +44 (0)1784 276611 Email Diana Laura Bassani-Merron Regular Giving and Legacy Manager +44 (0)1784 276538 Email Laura Rosie Sugden Head of Alumni Relations +44 (0)1784 414460 Email Rosie Emma Grist Alumni Relations Manager +44 (0)1784 276662 Email Emma David Hannaby Alumni Relations Manager +44(o)1784 443886 Email David Shilpi Shrestha Development Operations Manager +44 (0)1784 443362 Email Shilpi Rachael Koka Database and Donor Research Officer +44 (0)1784 276261 Email Rachael Reece Weight Development and Alumni Relations Assistant +44 (0)1784 414478 Email Reece

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